Aug. 23 was a memorable day for Dr. Robert Eicher, long-time president of the Southeast Community College Educational Foundation.The man who organized the Foundation in 1975 was honored during a luncheon with members of the Foundation Board.Eicher was presented a plaque for his leadership and service to the Foundation from 1975 to 2011. He recently resigned for health reasons.
“I’ve known Bob for eight years, and I have appreciated his leadership and friendship during those eight years,” Becker said. “Looking back, his vision for the Foundation really stands out to me.”
Aside from a four-year stint as director of career education at Des Moines Area Community College, Eicher worked for Southeast Community College from 1973-1992 (president) and, from 1951-1969, for Nebraska State Trade School, Nebraska Vocational Technical School, and Nebraska Technical College, all at Milford.
Matzke, a long-time Foundation Board member, remembers how the Foundation got started.
“We developed the Foundation because we had a group of students who couldn’t get to the next quarter without some financial help,” he said. “Bob was instrumental in getting it all started. Bob, you’ve done a great job, and I’m proud to call you my friend.”
Dunlap, the Foundation’s vice president, also reminisced about the early days of the Foundation and Eicher’s influence on it and thousands of students.
“Bob, you’re an educator, and I can’t think of a better title than that,” Dunlap said.
Eicher grew up on a farm near Milford and graduated from Milford High School in 1944. After graduation, he enrolled at the University of Nebraska, only to have his education interrupted one year later when he was drafted. After serving his country, Eicher completed his bachelor’s degree in business in 1950.
He was offered a job as a recruiter at the Nebraska State Trade School in Milford in 1951. Five years later he was promoted to assistant director, a position he held until 1969. While in Iowa, the Nebraska Legislature created the state’s current community college system, and Southeast Community College was looking for a president. Eicher was its first.
Eicher, 84, has three daughters: Cathy MacInnes of Omaha, Nancy Eicher of Minneapolis, and Diane Caulkins of Denver; and four grandchildren. His wife of 58 years, Jan, died May 10.